Containment increases to 60 percent on North Robertson Fire near Tok

Firefighters continue making good progress improving the perimeter of the North Robertson Fire burning along the Alaska Highway near Tok. Their work Wednesday increased containment of the 832-acre fire to 60 percent, according to the Alaska Division of Forestry.

The fire, burning about 30-miles northwest of Tok, was reported on June 1 about two miles west of the Alaska Highway near Milepost 1350. The fire is believed to be human caused and is under investigation. There are 233 personnel working on the fire as of Thursday morning.

There are nine crews of firefighters, nearly 200 men and women, spread out around the 7 to 8-mile fire perimeter. They continue to mop-up a buffer of 300-feet in from the fire’s edge by extinguishing or removing all burning materials. This is to eliminate the potential for spotting across containment lines. Hazardous trees are also being removed to keep it safe for those working in the area and those who will return to hunt and recreate in the area.

Despite Wednesday’s cloudy, cooler weather, a burn suspension for the Tok area remains in effect. Open burning and the use of burn barrels are not allowed. Although it is still legal to have campfires less than 3-feet in diameter, forestry fire officials advise you to refrain from doing so until conditions have moderated.

A temporary flight restriction remains in place of the fire and pilots should check with the Federal Aviation Administration before flying in the area. More information on the TFR is available at http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html.

The Alaska Highway remains open but motorists in the area should use caution and be on the lookout for firefighting equipment and firefighters on the road.